One benefit from working at NFL.com: I see the columns written by guys like Daniel Jeremiah, Albert Breer and Michael Lombardi before they go online.

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Who'll be the No. 1 pick in the 2013 draft? Bucky Brooks thinks it'll be Matt Barkley, provided he improves in three areas. More ...

Jeremiah, a former scout with the Cleveland Browns and Philadelphia Eagles, has weighed in with 10 observations after attending the Manning Passing Academy outside of New Orleans. He seconded previous reports that Peyton was very accurate and his velocity was solid, although there was a sense Peyton never fully "let it rip."

"(Manning) didn't have to strain to get the ball out there, but you could tell he was being a little cautious at this point in time," Jeremiah writes.

There are great notes on all the top collegiate passers who were in attendance -- draftniks need to read this column -- but Jeremiah's observation about USC quarterback Matt Barkley stuck out.

"I've seen Matt play live several times during his college career, and there was one noticeable difference after watching him this week: His arm has gotten much stronger," Jeremiah writes. "He was able to drive the ball with more authority than he has in the past three years."

Improved arm strength will only boost Barkley's considerable draft stock. It might be the biggest hurdle he faces. If Barkley's improved arm shows up in the fall, his decision to stay at USC could pay off.

Most of media day tends to be a gigantic, drawn-out rehashing of a bunch of things attentive fans and reporters already know.

The questions asked of coaches on the podium are often strikingly similar to the questions asked of them three months earlier at the conclusion of spring practice, and the answers aren't much different. The questions asked to players typically aren't very specific or creative, and the answers are even less so.

The biggest takeaway from that talk: Barkley's take on reports of him displaying significantly improved arm strength this summer. He dismissed them quickly.

"I haven't noticed any difference in my arm strength," Barkley said outside the Gibson Amphitheatre in Universal City. "Maybe someone else did for the first time and took note of it, which is maybe a good thing."

Someone else did notice it for the first time -- NFL.com writer Daniel Jeremiah, a former scout with three NFL teams. In a recap of this month's Manning Passing Academy in Louisiana, Jeremiah noted that Barkley impressed him during drills he watched at the academy.

"I've seen Barkley play live several times during his college career and I noticed one big difference last week: His arm has gotten much stronger," Jeremiah wrote. "He was able to drive the ball with more authority than he has in the past three years. He has always had great footwork and touch as a passer, but there were concerns about his ability to squeeze the ball into tight windows down the field.

"I was pleasantly surprised to watch him crank up the velocity on the deep comebacks during the workout on Saturday."

Arm strength, along with a lack of elite height and mobility, has been Barkley's biggest weakness for some time. He has been projected as an eventual NFL quarterback since he was 16, but he has never been known as a make-all-the-throws type of guy.

If what Jeremiah saw presents itself in fall camp next month and during the 2012 season this fall, Barkley's stock would jump even higher for next April's NFL draft. But the senior's comments at media day would seem to foretell something different.

Asked about reports regarding his arm strength, Barkley deflected a bit, saying arm strength wasn't always all that important to a quarterback. There are other things that go into making a signal-caller great, he said.

"I think you have to wing it when you need, but you don't want to throw it as hard as you can on every single pass when you're playing," Barkley said. "There's something called touch."

There is. And Barkley has proven in three years at USC he has a good amount of it.

But even a small improvement in the amount of zip on his passes -- however it's achieved -- would go a sizable way.

Barkley does not have a weak arm, but on the NFL level, it is subpar. It is not on the deep throws where this is going to hurt him. Barkley can hang up some nice deep passes. He puts a little air under his passes, and he can drop them on target. It is on the mid-level throws where he is going to struggle. The window to complete outs and crosses in the NFL in tiny. To complete these throws, it takes a combination of arm strength and accuracy.

"Arm strength, along with a lack of elite height and mobility, has been Barkley's biggest weakness for some time"

I was living in LA and watched a few of his home games last season. This area of Barkley is the reason I never have liked him as a NFL player. I think he is a good college player, but he's not going to be a good NFL QB. His alertness in the pocket isn't very good either.

"Arm strength, along with a lack of elite height and mobility, has been Barkley's biggest weakness for some time"

I was living in LA and watched a few of his home games last season. This area of Barkley is the reason I never have liked him as a NFL player. I think he is a good college player, but he's not going to be a good NFL QB. His alertness in the pocket isn't very good either.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Woodsponge Chuckpants

Me too and Barkley scares me for this reason. That and Lane Kiffen has been coaching him.

Totally different regime. How you can compare QBs based on the uniform they wear ALONE is beyond me. It is dumb. No way around it.
Being called a Dumbass by MM may be an honor, but its certainly not a compliment.

Totally different regime. How you can compare QBs based on the uniform they wear ALONE is beyond me. It is dumb. No way around it.
Being called a Dumbass by MM may be an honor, but its certainly not a compliment.

I doubt many people are gonna put such a strong emphasis on height after what Russell Wilson is doing.

Plus Barkley is 6'2" 230 lbs. That's plenty for the NFL. I don't care that he's not 6'5". He can obviously still make plays and see over the line.

There will always be an emphasis on heighth, Brees has been doing it for a lot longer than Wilson, and there is still an emphasis on it.

With that being said, 6'2 is plenty tall to be successful..

As of right now, I like Barkley over Smith, I have not seen Smith do wonderful things agaisnt a good D.

I have watched a few games of Wilson and Bray, and wasn't impressed with either, but that wasn't enough time to decided if I hate either.

Landry Jones, COULD be the best qb in this draft if he simply had better pocket awareness and didn't get happy feet. Right now, I wouldn't want the Chiefs to draft him because he gets nervous so easy and quick, but when the dude stands in the pocket and is relaxed, he is an absolutle stud.

That being said, I would be so happy with drafting absolutley any one of them.